Ten proud Gurkhas from Reading cracked open the bubbly to celebrate visas from the Home Office allowing them to settle in the town.

The brave soldiers were joined by Reading West MP Martin Salter outside the United British Gurkha Ex-Servicemen’s Association (UBGEA) headquarters in London Street on Tuesday.

Mr Salter, who chairs the All Party Parliamentary Group on Gurkhas’ Rights, then joined the Nepalese soldiers at a Home Affairs Select Committee meeting in Parliament later that day.

Retired Corporal Laxmi Sharma had been waiting more than two years for his visa application to be granted.

He said: “After all this waiting, finally we’ve got something to look forward to and we would like to thank everybody for that. Everybody

supported us and every little bit counts. Now we can see justice coming up at the end of the tunnel, this is the light, it is the beginning and we will not stop until we finish.”

Speaking about the iconic victories, Mr Salter said it signalled the end of a long, hard campaign.

He added: “We’ve got to have a clear and coherent policy that treats Gurkhas the same as other foreign nationals who fight for the British crown. I’ve got a feeling we’ll win, it’s been a long campaign but I reckon we’re on the final lap now.

“For the Gurkhas more generally we can’t just rely on ministers using their discretion to grant applications.

“We need a proper and fair policy that honours the debt of gratitude that Britain owes to these brave fighting men who have served this country so well.”

Gyanraj Rai, programme coordinator for the UBGEA housed up to seven Gurkhas at one time in his West Reading flat after he was granted settlement more than two years ago.

“We all did the same duty, we were all prepared to die, where I managed to get the settlement right. Why did these people not too?” said the Reading Buses bus driver.

“We are hoping on a decision in a few days’ time for the rest of the Gurkhas still waiting. Many Gurkhas suffered horrendous times.

“Thirteen veterans died because of lack of medication.

“Many people were mentally depressed, almost mad, now they are ok and are waiting for the result back in Nepal and I hope they will be able to come here soon.”